Improvement in vehicle-axle lubricators



L. ESPENS HIBB, Vehicle-Axle Lubrioator.

No. 203,821. Patented May 21, 1878'.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS ESPENSOHIED, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN VEHICLE-AXLE LUBRICATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 203,82 l, dated May 21,1878; application filled April 10, 1878.

ing through the hurdle or collar of the thimble, and coming flushagainst the hub of the wheel. The play that the wheel has longitudinallyon its spindle when in motion causes its hub to knock against the collaror hurdle, thus thereby forcing the grease before it through an openingcommunicating with it, and com.- ing out at top of the spindle to bedistributed over same and the box of the hub.

Of the drawing, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a thinilole,showing my improvement attached. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of myimproved thimble.

A is the thimble, and B is its spindle. Immediately back of the spindle,and under the hurdle or collar to, is my greasereservoir 0, cast orotherwise formed in the thimble. The shape of this grease reservoir isas shown in the drawing, Fig. 1, having its supply-opening a in thehurdle or collar a, through which the grease is inserted.

The opening 0 of the grease-reservoir comes flush with the face of thecollar (gas shown in the drawing, and the hub of the wheel, playing onthe spindle longitudinally, knocks against this collar, forcing air intothe reservoir O, causing the grease to be forced through the pipe orspout c' and out at its opening 0 on top of the spindle.

The spindle, resting with its under face in the box of the hub, thusleaves a space above, thereby giving the grease free passage out of itsdischarge-opening c Inasmuch as the usual wagon grease will not flow,being too stiff, the reservoir is inactive when the wagon stands still,but begins to operate and discharge the grease when the wagon is inmotion, thereby economizing its use and lasting a much longer time.

In case the grease, through whatever cause, should become too stiff tobe forced through the action of the compressed air, the spindle,becoming dry, would become heated, and usually at or near the shoulder,where the bearing is the greatest, thereby warming up the grease andcausing it to flow out.

In greasing the spindle, the wheel is taken off and greased in the usualway, and the res ervoir then filled, thus, having a large reserve ofgrease, allowing the wagon to run a greater length of time without againgreasing.

As the spindle at the shoulder is the most delicate part of the spindle,and also resisting the most bearing strain, it consequently is the mostliable to become dry; The peculiar position of my reservoir gives thisparticular part of the spindle an extra supply of grease.

It is calculated that the action or knocking of the hub of the wheelagainst the opening 0 will bring out the grease at c in smallquantitiesand only at long intervals, thus many licks or knocks failingto discharge any.

I do not limit myself to the number of grease-reservoirs, as one or morecan be applied, or one on each side; but their position in the thiinbleimmediately back of the hurdle or collar (it, having the opening 0 flushwith the front face of said collar, is wherein I lay great stress.

The position of the grease-box, together with the spout below, alsostrengthens the spindle at the shoulder, at the same time the wholebeing well hid and out of the way. Having thus fully described myinvention, what I'claim isi A thimble, A, having a grease'reservoir, 0,

'cast or otherwise formed in the same, with supply-opening c andcommunicatingspout 0 as herein shown and described, in combination withthe wheel-hub,formin g a compressedair grease-reservoir, whereby,through the action of the compressed air, the grease is forced outautomatically, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony of said invention I have hereunto set 'my hand in presenceof two witnesses.

LOUIS .nsrnnsoninn.

Witnesses OHAs. F. MEISNER, D. J. OnEcnLIUs.

